HUUB Academy launch supports sporting ambitions

A new club for budding youngsters and adults looking to enter their first triathlon has been launched in Derby.

The HUUB Academy is the brainchild of Dean Jackson the owner of triathlon wetsuit and kit company HUUB Design and long-established triathlon coach Hilary Johnson – the mother and coach of elite triathlete twins Tom and David Bishop.

Based at HUUB Design’s offices at the Park Bikeworks in Derby’s Cathedral Quarter, The HUUB Academy already has more than 20 junior and adult members and a weekly training programme.

Hilary Johnson is a former cyclo cross national champion, she is also the team manager for the East Midlands Inter Regional Championships Triathlon Team and a level three British Triathlon coach and mentor for the organisation. She said:

The aims of the HUUB Academy is that it is a friendly and inclusive club – supporting youngsters and adults alike to develop their skills and compete in the growing local triathlon and duathlon calendar. Many of our members want to train with all three triathlon sports of swim, cycle and run but others prefer to concentrate on one discipline which is fine. Our main objective is for everyone to enjoy their sport and to break down the barriers to them participating at whatever level they choose.”

HUUB Design’s Dean Jackson said:

As triathlon kit designers, we work with some of the top triathletes in the world such as the Brownlee brothers and have always been keen to support younger sports people as part of their elite pathway – including the Bishops. I have been keen to develop this further and set up an Academy to introduce more young people and adults into the sport and support them on their development journey.”

Hilary Johnson added that the HUUB Academy was also important to support young people onto the triathlete elite pathway and following in the footsteps of her sons Tom and David Bishop.

Twenty five-year-old twins Tom and David Bishop are both accomplished triathletes and Tom came second in the first ITU event in Abu Dhabi. He is part of the GB triathlon squad which is training for Tokyo 2020.

Hilary said:

The East Midlands is extremely strong in triathlon and we have a number of young athletes who are on the elite pathway with their sights set on international competition. To maintain this momentum, it is important that we support and coach children in the right way and help them to develop on the sporting pathway if that is their goal.”

The HUUB Academy is working with HUUB Events and Peak Performance triathlon club to stage a Junior Duathlon event of cycling and running at Darley Moor race track in Ashbourne on Saturday May 27.

The Junior Duathlon on May 27 is open to youngsters aged eight to 16. Anyone can enter and do not have to be a member of a club.

Families also have the opportunity to camp overnight free of charge at the race track so that adults can take part in a duathlon for 17-year-olds and over at the venue the following day organised by Crazy Legs Events. The adult duathlon consists of a 5km run and 20km cycle finishing with a further 5km run.

Juniors aged eight upwards can also be part of the first Staunton Harold Triathlon on June 11.

The Jenson Button Trust Triathlon is the opportunity for elite, seasoned and novice triathletes as well as teams of three in the Team Challenge, to compete alongside Formula 1 McLaren Honda racing driver Jenson Button in a day of sport.

Everyone will get the chance to race twice. The preliminary will consist of a 200m swim in Markeaton Lake; 10km cycle from the park and on closed roads into the city’s Cathedral Quarter before returning to the park to complete a 2.5km run.

In the individual event, the top male and female performers will then go on to the finals – completing a 400m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run, with the runners up entering the wooden spoon race.

The Team Challenge participants will race again in the afternoon over the Super Sprint distance and the team with the fastest average time will emerge victorious.

Youngsters can tackle a shorter course of 50m swim, 2.5km cycle and a 750m run alongside an adult free of charge – crossing the finish line under the giant JBTT gantry.

For more information about entering all these junior and adult events this spring and summer, please visit the Hub Events website.